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Top stories of Dec 6th, 2000: |
| It's Official - no 3D Card Support in VirtualPC 4: |
| Although the readme file info I noted yesterday should have been clear enough ("Virtual PC does not provide the resources many PC games require to run, such as hardware accelerated 3D video"), many of us were still hoping that Voodoo cards were supported. However I searched the entire Virtual PC 4 manual for 3dfx and Voodoo - the only place it shows up is in the copyright. And to make it official, Connectix support answered my question on Voodoo/Voodoo2 card support:
"
Unfortunately, Virtual PC 4 does not support 3D graphics cards. This support was removed to improve overall performance of the application.
"
One reader noted even a non-3D game like MonkeyIsland3 refused to run.
My other question still remains - after the update is there still support for Voodoo/Voodoo2 cards in VPC v3? (Both versions use the same windows disk image.)
The good news is that every reader mail so far has noted much better performance in Virtual PC 4 for non-game tasks. (See the earlier news item for some VPC 3 vs VPC 4 performance comparisons.)
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| Virtual PC 4.0 Test Results - Impressive Gains on G3s & G4s, but No More Voodoo Card Support |
| Initial tests with Norton's System Info benchmark comparing Virtual PC version 3 to version 4 are impressive. Norton's SI score more than tripled with VPC 4 on a PowerBook G3/500 compared to version 3. One reader however noted in the forums here that after the update to v4 his Voodoo2 cards were no longer supported. I've asked if he can run his previous VPC 3 version to see if they're still functional (the upgrade leaves the previous version on the hard drive. Installing Wintune on one version also showed it in the other - apparently a common Windows disk image is used for both.)
The details page has results of tests with VPC 3 vs VPC 4 using Norton's SI (system/cpu) Benchmark as well as a reader's B&W G3 w/550MHz G4 CPU upgrade Wintune scores comparing VPC 4 to VPC 3. (These tests results also added to the Tips & Misc articles page Software section.)
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| Reader Feedback On G4 Fan Noise Reduction Article: |
| Several readers wrote to say that the fan isolation tips noted in my G4 Fan Noise Reduction article helped their G4 or B&W G3 systems. One reader noted he applied the same tip to the fan in the power supply which he said was also noisy (mine isn't ). (I don't suggest most owners try to open the power supply to mess with the fan inside - it's a lot more involved than removing the main system fan.)
One B&W G3 owner (same fan/case design as the G4) said after isolating the large fan, he discovered his original 6GB Quantum drive was the source of a whine that he found objectionable. (He's planning on replacing the drive. )
Another reader mentioned using adhesive backed sound absorber material (available at some car audio stores) applied to the case walls and brackets. (Remember you don't want to block airflow or cause interference with components). After isolating the main fan, my G4 is very quiet now, so I don't feel the need to do further mods to this case. Adhesive backed material can be messy to remove and could hurt resale of the system should you sell it later, (as well as voiding the warranty I suspect since it's clearly visible by a service technician.)
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| Software Updates, TILs, Other Net News Updated: |
| The Software Updates, TILs and Other Net News listing has been updated with Barney Buoy's daily news feed.
The Mac news links are full of repeats and speculation on yesterday's warning from Apple regarding financial losses. Jobs' comments on faster systems and new products next year (along with hopefully lower prices) was good to hear however. I think he has some surprises up his sleeve and I'm going to continue to think positively, despite the fact their stock fell below $15 today. Apple's cash per share was noted as many times that of the PC big three.
John Dvorak has a story that might make you appreciate your Mac a bit more. Read his Same PC blunders, forever article that talks about " the same little problems that have plagued users for over a decade just seem to continue. At this point, I've given up on seeing any improvement anytime soon." He lists his top complaints such as DLL swapping, Drive C: Complex, Start-up Menu Myopia, Nothing Is Easy and more. Of course the obligatory Mac bashing had to appear somewhere, this time in a comment under his Change Settings Dilemma complaint where he says this problem usually comes from people who program for the Macintosh platform and haven't figured out how to code for anything else. (Don't take the bait... on second thought, skip the entire article.)
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| Sonnet Fortissimo CPU Upgrades and SonataPro Nubus Card Issues: |
"
Mike:
Here is my summary:
Sonnet Technology's new Crescendo Nubus (PDS) G3 400 and 500 upgrade cards
with "Fortissimo Bus-doubling technology" are not compatible with their
SonataPro 24 nubus video cards (aka Villagetronic MacPicasso 340), contrary to claims currently posted on the Sonnet web site,
www.sonnettech.com/tech/g3_comp_matrix.html#nubus_cards.
The system configuration is probably irrelevant; Neal MacAuley of Sonnet has
told me flatly that the "Fortissimo" cards are incompatible with the Sonata
video cards, and that Sonnet did not test with the Sonata cards because "we
don't have any left in stock".
The Sonata (/Villagetronic) cards do work with previous Crescendo upgrade
cards (and presumably with the non-"Fortissimo", lower speed grades still listed on their site).
Thanks,
David Smith"
David originally copied me on an email that included Sonnet tech support comments verifying that David's findings were correct.
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| Rate Your CPU Upgrade Database Updates: |
| The Rate Your CPU Upgrade database has been updated with 6 new reports (total to date: 4,886). [Entries from after midnight will be added the following day.]
- Other World Computing G3/450 in Beige G3/266 DT (rated 10)
- Other World Computing G3/450 in Beige G3/233 DT (rated 10)
(update after 1 year of use)
- Sonnet G4/400 in 7300/180 (rated 9)
- Sonnet G3/500 in 9500/200 (rated 9)
- XLR8 CarrierZIF w/OWC G3/266 ZIF in 7300/180 (rated 10)
- G4/350 AGP OC report
You can find these full reports by searching the database selecting the indicated Mac model and upgrade card brand/type. If you've upgraded the CPU on your Mac, please post an entry in the database. Search the database for entries from most every upgradable Mac model *before* you buy. (Searchable by mac model/upgrade brand)
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| Drive Compatibility Database Updates: |
| The Drive Compatibility searchable database had 8 new entries posted this morning (current total 2,117).
CDRW Drives:
- Firewire Lacie 12/10/32 w/PowerBase (using Firewire PCI Card)
- Firewire Plextor 12x/10x/32x (IDE plextor drive in Firewire case)
- USB Iomega ZipCD 4x4x6 w/iMac
(noted not all CDR media brands worked well)
- USB Sony CRX100E/X w/iMac
- SCSI Yamaha 8824s (8x8x/24x) Ext. w/PowerBook 3400
(notes coasters, audio cd burn problems)
Hard Drives:
- IDE IBM DeskStar 75GXP
- IDE Maxtor 40GB in iMac DV
- IDE Maxtor 20GB in PowerBase
You can find these full reports by searching by drive type, interface, mac model, etc. (the latest reports are shown first in searches).
If you've added a IDE, SCSI, Firewire or USB hard drive, CDRW, tape drive, etc. make sure you add a report to the database.
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